#1136883 ITP: debian-marlin -- Debian Pure Blend for desktop / end-users

#1136883#5
Date:
2026-05-16 19:12:28 UTC
From:
To:
* Package name    : debian-marlin
  Version         : 0.1.0
  Upstream Contact: Stefan Kropp <stefan.kropp@posteo.de>
* URL             : https://salsa.debian.org/StefanKropp/debian-marlin/
* License         : GPL-3
  Programming Lang: -
  Description     : Debian Pure Blend for desktop / end-users

Goal: Debian Marlin shall be a Debian for end users to run
Debian on Desktop / Laptops. The system shall provide a set of
pre-installed applications for daily use. My idea is to provide a
set of documentation and tools to get familiarize with Debian
GNU/Linux.

  "Getting started with Debian GNU/Linux"

Debian Marlin Desktop use Xfce4 as desktop environment and
includes applications like evolution, libreoffice, a digital
photo organizer, ebook reader, chat application, audio- and
video-player, also tools like password manager, backup tool and
financial-accounting.

Under the hood, there should be all important lib / system tools
provided for daily use (e.g. gvfs-backends, cups-filters,
avahi,...).

Mail on debian-blends mailinglist:
https://lists.debian.org/msgid-search/3n45qmqhxko6ewokubzheyxoi3ktapxetrupswusxq6eehpcfy@36ydqtxpdpba

#1136883#10
Date:
2026-05-16 19:52:20 UTC
From:
To:
Hi,

Stefan Kropp <stefan.kropp@posteo.de> wrote (Sat, 16 May 2026 19:12:28 +0000):

I cannot see, why this target warrants a new Debian Pure Blend.

It looks to me there is no big difference compared to all the
desktop environments we already have.
*If* there *are* some benefits, do they justify a new Blend?


Holger

#1136883#15
Date:
2026-05-17 10:30:35 UTC
From:
To:
Im giving some comments on this as a package - im sure you will get
lots of feedback about the "blend"

I think it is confusing for users to have the package and blend named
the same thing

I suggest debian-marlin-all or debian-marlin-documentation, depending
on what the package is -- i couldnt tell from the description

just as example - is this the license of the blend? (clearly not!)

the "end user" is business jargon that is confusing for non-it people.
it also adds little, and is technically incorrect  - all users are
"end users", and not every "end user" is a desktop user

if your aim is desktop users you will want to make things a lot clearer!

laptops?? so i cant use it on my tablet? this seems a bit 1990s?

(also, i dont think this is actually your "goal": this seems more like
an implementaiton detail. your goal is probably more like making
something "easier to use" / "looks good" / "good performance", etc)

"normal" debian already does this. Is this package a metapackage?

But this sentence makes it sound like documentation. and missing a d
in "familiarized"

it's confusing to use "desktop" to mean the gui envitonment here, but
hardware above

"includes" isnt clear (and isnt technically correct unless this is a
huge package): do you mean that installing this package brings in
different/more applications to task-xfce4-desktop?
I also wonder whether your selection of tools is really want "end
users" want installed -- an ebook reader but no web browser?

An end user is going to find this quite baffling - we dont consider
any lib[raries?] as "provided for daily use", and are gvfs-backend,
cups-files, avahi really examples of ....anything helpful? - and they
are all in debian already: what is this blend/package doing that
task-xfce-desktop doesnt?